John Goldingay Conference

	cbm in partnership with Laidlaw College were holding a one-day conference, GOD, HUMANNESS AND DISABILITY, presented by John Goldingay (David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament at Fuller Seminary). John Goldingay is an Old Testament scholar with a personal and academic interest in the experiences of people with disabilities. John addressed the question of how people with disabilities can fully participate in churches and wider society.
The key note addresses from John Goldingay, Mike Potter and Evan Clulee, and Mark and Chris Grantham, are now available for viewing. Also John Goldingay has kindly given us permission to place full text notes of both his presentations on the website. These are available here.
A Shared Vision Laidlaw College and cbm have partnered together in organising this conference out of our shared longing for a world shaped by the love of Christ in which people with disabilities are fully able to participate in churches and communities with equal opportunities for learning, leadership and flourishing lives. In July 2013, a second conference is to be held, in partnership with Carey Baptist College, around the theme Theology, Disability and the People of God. We hope you will also be able to join with us then. For more details please contact: Hermie Petersen, Partnerships Development Officer, Free phone 0800 77 22 64 email: hpetersen@cbmi.org.nz

9.00 am Registration opens. Tea and coffee available.

9.30 - 10.00 am WELCOME
Rod Thompson, National Principal, Laidlaw College

10.00 - 11.00 am THINKING ABOUT DISABILITY AND GOD: A HUSBAND'S PERSPECTIVE
John Goldingay

11.30 - 12.30 pm THINKING ABOUT DISABILITY AND GOD: TWO WHEELCHAIR-USERS PERSPECTIVES
Evan Clulee and Mike Potter

11.30 - 12.30 pm ELECTIVE WORKSHOPS
An opportunity to engage with differing perspectives on disability, culture and inclusiveness
Leyna Coleman
Peter Coxhead & Vanessa Creamer
Tony McLean
Leo Te Kira
Vicki Terrell
Margaret Ward

12.30 - 1.30 pm Lunch
An Invitation to participate in Blind Dining: Over lunch, we invite you to take the opportunity to walk in the shoes of others, if only for a short time. The Blind Dining Lunch will give you a chance to live the challenges, and understand the realities, of one sector of the disability community. This unique experience will give you an increased awareness and admiration for those living with visual impairment and help you understand how small changes in in the way we do things can have a big impact.

1.30 - 2.00 pm THINKING ABOUT DISABILITY AND GOD: A SON AND FATHER'S PERSPECTIVE
Mark & Chris Grantham

2.00 - 2.30 pm cbm AND LUKE 14
Darren Ward, National Director, cbm

2.30 - 3.30 pm  THINKING ABOUT DISABILITY AND GOD: AN OLD TESTAMENT PERSPECTIVE
John Goldingay

3.30 - 4.00 pm Panel Discussion

KEYNOTE Speakers

John Goldingay John is the David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament in the School of Theology at Fuller Seminary. He studied theology at Oxford, was ordained and worked as a pastor in London, and later gained his PhD from Nottingham University. He became a professor of Old Testament and Hebrew and later Principal at St John’s Theological College in Nottingham, England. He joined Fuller in 1997. John was married to Ann, who had Multiple Sclerosis for 43 years; she died in 2009. John has two married sons and is now married to Kathleen.
Evan Clulee Evan is an educator for Renaissance Group on issues of disability awareness, community inclusion and supported living. With 40 years of lived experience with disability and weary of seeing people with disabilities made powerless and limited because of decisions made for them, Evan’s passion is for full inclusion of disabled people in society, living the lives they desire. Evan is married to May; they have an 8-year-old foster son.
Mike Potter Mike first experienced disability in his 40’s, becoming a paraplegic (T12/L1 complete) when thrown from a van while engaged in mission work in 2008. Previously he lived an active life as father, husband, university lecturer, and competitive athlete. Reconciling life with few limitations and one with an acquired disability has produced a shared journey of grief, discovery and hope. Mike is married to Anne; they have two daughters.
Mark Grantham Ready, willing and abled, Mark Grantham is not confined to a wheelchair. On the contrary, his wheelchair assists him in a life of independence, purpose and determined service. Born with cerebral palsy, Mark has never allowed his impairments to hold him back. For more than 20 years he has been supporting his five World Vision sponsored kids by selling chocolate bars. Mark’s story has been published in The Chocolate Seller on Broadway.
Chris Grantham Chris’ speaking, writing and the occasional stand up comedy get him out and about plenty. Chris is the author of The Kiwi Bible. He has worked for several mission agencies, and now directs the Arrow Leadership programme. He and Jocelyn have two grown up kids, one of whom is the Chocolate Seller on Broadway.

Elective Workshop Presenters

Leyna Coleman Leyna is young, enthusiastic, a qualified Nanny and the winner of the 2009 NZ Association of Private Education Providers Student of the Year Award. She is also blind. Leyna became a Christian in 2004. She happily points out that although she is physically blind, she most definitely is spiritually sighted.
Peter Coxhead Peter was born deaf and is the only deaf member of his family. Peter helped lead the Deaf Ministry at Auckland City Church (now Equippers). In 2007, he established the Deaf Ministry at Titirangi Baptist. Presently, he is involved with the production of the Bible into NZSL. Peter is married to Julie; they have two beautiful daughters.
Vanessa Creamer Vanessa is studying at Carey Baptist College. She is passionate about disability in the community, in particular raising awareness and support from the local church. Vanessa is involved with Christian Ministries with Disabled Trust camps, and is currently the Chairperson of the Auckland Branch of the Christian Fellowship for Disabled. Vanessa has severe hearing loss. Her hearing dog, Rogan, assists her around the home and in the community.
Tony McLean Tony McLean has worked with disabled people and their families in the formal service system and local communities for over 18 years. He is the Manager of Community Development and Innovation for ImagineBetter. Its focus is on supporting disabled individuals to become real and valued members of their local neighbourhoods and communities. Tony is married, and has two daughters.
Leo Te Kira Troubles with the day of Leo’s birth means that he lives with mild cerebral palsy. A native of suburban Wainuiomata, Wellington, Leo is fluent in Te Reo Maori, and an active member of the Ngati Porou tribe of both his parents. He trained as a High School Teacher, has been an Ordained Anglican Priest, and has ministered to congregations, both Maori and Pakeha, urban and rural. He is presently a part-time rest home chaplain, and part-time Maori Advisor in Napier.
Vicki Terrell Vicki is an Anglican Priest currently in transition after 3 years of full-time ministry in Otahuhu. Vicki has cerebral palsy which affects her speech; this challenges her to think outside of the box. Prior to ordination, she worked in the disability community, and helped establish the Disability, Spirituality and Faith Network. Making sense of disability within the frame work of Christianity has led Vicki to reflect on what it is to be human, and the gift of impairment.
Margaret Ward Margaret has a passion for people with disabilities. As a 9-year-old, she contracted polio which left her with a paralysed leg. This has not stopped her from living in fullness and assisting others with disabilities to do the same. Working for nine years with IHC has enforced this for her, and about five years ago, she discovered cbm. Her time now is spent promoting the work of cbm, and particularly the Luke 14 progamme in New Zealand churches.